Switch-opener.



H. J. LANTZ.

, SWITCH OPENER. APPLIOATI'ON FILED MA'R.11, 1913. 1 ,083,286. Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

HARRY J'. LANTZ, 0F AUGUSTA,

SWlTQH-ORENER Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Application med March 11, 1913. serial No. 753,551.

1/ b all 'Lo/0m 'it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY J. LANTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Sussex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SwitchOpeners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This inventicn relates to switch throwing devices and has for an object to provide an extremely simple and novel mechanism to enable a switch to be opened from a moving car.

A further object is to provide a novel lever mechanism for operating the device.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character that will be composed of a few simple and durable parts.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be made in the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention: Figure 1 is a detail perspective view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the device in released position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the device in operative position. Fig. f1 is a plan view.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts. 10 designates a fragmentary portion of a car. To avoid confusion but one switch throwing device will be described although it is to be understood that two of such devices are employed one on each side of the car corresponding to each rail of the track.

Secured to the car bot-tom is a V-shaped hanger 11 having an opening 12 at the apex. A stand rod 13 is slidably tted in this opening and extends up through the bottom of the car, the rod being equipped below the hanger with a shoe 14 that is pointed at the leading end as shown at 15. A collar 16 is secured to the rod and between this collar and the apex of the hanger a helical spring 17 is confined on the rod under tension, this spring serving to normally hold the rod raied and the shoe raised above the track ra1 Secured to the front wall of the car is a V-shaped bracket 18, this bracket extending horizontally rearwardlyT and having an opening 19 at the apex which loosely receives the rod 13. An arcuate fulcrum bar 20 is terminally lixed to and spans the legs of the bracket. An operating lever 21 is centrally pivoted to the upper end of the rod 13 as shown at 22 and is terminally provided with a ring 23 which loosely surrounds the fulcrum bar 20.

In operation the lever 21 is turned to the right or left according to whether it is desired to open or close the switch, such rotation of the lever rotating the rod 13 and also turning the shoe in a direction corresponding to the direction of the lever. The ring of the lever will meantime have advanced along the fulcrum bar. The lever is now depressed, rocking on the ulcrum bar during such depression with a resultant lowering of the shoe into position to open or clo-se the switch. Upon release of the lever the helical spring 17 raises the bar 13 and lifts the shoe above the rail to released position.

Upon reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be noted that a projection 25 is formed on the side ot the switch frog, this projection being of such extent that when the switch tongue is moved correspondingly, it will rest against the projection and its extremity will be held sufliciently far from the side of the frog to insure the leading end 15 entering behind it. It will of course be understood that such projection may be given such specific location as may be deemed expedient.

What is claimed, is

A switch throwing device :tor railway HARRY J. LANTZ.

cars including a hanger, :L spring controlled vertically movable rod mounted in said hanger, a switch throwing shoe on said rod, n substantially V-shaped bracket having an opening loosely receiving said rod, an arcusite fulcrum bar spanning the legs of said bracket, and a lever pivoted intermediate the ends to the upper end of said rod and Witnesses:

HUGH C. BALDWIN, CHAS. M. WooDNEr.

Copies o1' this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

